THE STORIES WE TELL (original version)

We tell these stories - to friends, family, most often to ourselves. Do any of them matter? Are any of them real?

Addalynn doesn't mind being the town witch. The rumors of her "gift" keep the religious gossip-mongers at a distance, and with her parents gone, it's best for Addalynn if no one tries to get too close. As long as things remain as they are, Addalynn is content to live in her parent's home with her sarcastic familiar, Makena, and watch sunsets fall on her prized snapdragon garden.

Elladine feels that something is missing. Her father's incessant concern for the "state of her soul" has pushed her away from the Home, and her mother's increasing passivity has only encouraged her distrust of anyone human. But neither of these things is the missing link, and Elladine can't wait for the day when she can leave her home forever.

When ancient spirits appear in the nearby forest, Addalynn and Elladine must work together to protect the town from impending invasion. But a mysterious stranger also arrives, looking for any reason to commit Addalynn to his asylum. The unlikely pair have no choice but to unite and save their home. Is salvation possible without sacrificing themselves?

Told from alternating perspectives, STORIES confronts the human fear of insignificance while embracing love that grows like snapdragons in the winter - unexpectedly, defiantly, magically. This novel is the first in a planned duology. It will be loved by fans of Malinda Lo's ASH and Sarah Rees Brennan's UNSPOKEN.